When You’re Angry With Students: Six Steps to Take
Two years ago, I was asked to speak at a high school, and arrived a day early for some meetings in town. While my colleagues got some work done, I chose to take an hour to visit the school, incognito, and observe a typical day on campus. It was enlightening. Most of what I saw…
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What Parents and Students Should Look for in Colleges and Majors
Most of the high school seniors that I talk to tell me they aren’t sure what they want to do when they graduate. Some will declare a major course of study for college but even they will concede, “I’ll have to see if it feels right once I start.” Others tell me they’re not sure…
Continue ReadingThe Message Our Kids Receive From the Miss America Pageant
Did you hear the recent news, just announced on June 5th? The Miss America pageant is making some changes to its competition. It’s something people have been talking about for decades and now—it’s finally happening. For the first time in almost a century, contestants are not required to strut across a runway in their bathing…
Continue ReadingYour Top Responsibility as a Leader
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree—and I will spend the first four sharpening my axe.” President Lincoln understood something that few leaders buy into and even fewer practice today. It’s the art of development. Even in his day, when change happened more slowly than it does today, Lincoln…
Continue ReadingFive Harmful Parenting Styles and How to Correct Them
Growing up, my son loved participating in a community theatre program in Atlanta. He is a true thespian. He loves the drama of a Broadway show. He loves the drama of television or movies. He loves the drama of musical theatre. Unfortunately, he’s seen a little too much drama from the adults in his life.…
Continue ReadingThe 30-Year-Old Son Who Refused to Move Out: Three Lessons Learned
The story made the national news over the last few weeks. I think it did because so many of us found it preposterous. Did you catch the story? New York parents decided to sue their 30-year-old son who refused to move out of their house. Sound a little strange? Keep reading. Evidently, Michael Rotondo decided…
Continue ReadingSix Traits That Predict High Performance in Life
I just spoke to a mom who’s a bit melancholy right now. Her 24-year-old son has stalled. Growing up, her son made excellent grades in school and even played two sports. She and her husband both felt good about their son’s future. Surely, he was going to flourish as an adult just as he did…
Continue ReadingSeven Symptoms of Too Much Social Media Use
According to Common Sense Media, 50% of teens say they are addicted to their cell phone. While CSM concludes more study is needed to determine how deep the digital addiction is, teens feel the symptoms and consequences of it. It’s a growing issue in middle class America. Two-thirds of parents, 66%, feel their teens spend too much time…
Continue ReadingThe Best Way to Help Kids with Homework
Parenting experts all agree: your children will always need you while they live under your roof—but how they need you will change over time. One of our problems as parents is—we lock into one way of helping our kids; one leadership style that doesn’t change as they mature. This presents a problem. Take homework, for…
Continue ReadingOne Surprise I Got from My Time at West Point
Recently, I had the privilege of spending a day at the United States Military Academy. You know it as West Point. From the initial formation and flag salute in the morning, to the classes I attended that day—I got to tour an institution that is quite literally an incubator for leaders. All of this, I…
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